Testimonials
"For us at St. Vincent School, being part of the USC Family of Schools means having many more opportunities for the students. Being a small school, we do not have the personnel nor the resources to have too many “extras” at the school. We benefit from the USC Joint Education Program with tutors, mentors and mini-courses; USC After School Sports Program for grades 3–5; and an after-school music program that will begin this school year for children in grades 1–3."
Sister Cabrini, principal, St. Vincent School
"The USC’s community outreach programs have greatly enriched our curricular program here at St. Agnes Parish School. Our students and parents feel a real connection to USC through these programs and all that USC does for us. We certainly feel like part of the USC family. Thanks Trojans!"
Kevin Dempsey, principal, St. Agnes Parish School
"I went to USC as an undergraduate in the late sixties and early seventies. USC had little involvement in the surrounding community at that time. Now that I’ve come full circle and am principal at one of the USC Family of Schools, I am so proud of the university’s commitment to the community. I am also very fortunate to be actively participating in the services and activities produced by this commitment. Our students have been cushioned from some of the budget cutbacks in education because of our participation in USC’s many programs. Music, sports, art, tutoring, counseling and safety programs are all available for our students."
Dee Dee Lonon, principal, Norwood Street Elementary School
"Our K–12 school benefits tremendously from the USC Family of Schools partnership it has had with the University of Southern California. Specifically, my elementary school students benefit from readers from USC ReadersPlus, who at the direction of classroom teachers, work independently with struggling readers, giving them much needed one-on-one attention. The results have been outstanding, and teachers are delighted to receive a helping hand with struggling students."
Gail Greer, principal, 32 Street/USC Magnet
"We must also salute the USC JEP tutorial program, the sororities, fraternities and dormitories that make ‘volunteerism’ a part of [the USC experience]. USC, in supporting us, serves students who come from across Los Angeles County and the difference made is powerful. A heartfelt thank you is due as well as a standing invitation to come and see USC volunteerism at work by visiting our wonderful, wonderful students, parents, teachers and school."
Gail Greer, principal, 32 Street/USC Magnet
" . . . USC-sponsored projects in the USC Family of Schools provide opportunities for our own students to learn as interns, while providing a link to our neighbors and to our community. Every year we place graduate students in schools near the University Park and Health Sciences campuses. They work with children all the way from kindergarten to high school. The schools—as a result of this experience—have subsequently employed many of our students."
Marilyn Flynn, dean, USC School of Social Work
"The Art in the Village program is unique because it encourages local students to create art and recognizes them in a positive way for their efforts. Young students have the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in a professionally curated and installed exhibition, which is open to the public. Our project supports the whole education of students. Studies show that students who are involved in the arts perform better in other disciplines."
Jeanette La Vere, education and outreach coordinator, USC Fisher Gallery
"The kids will be exposed to jazz through JazzReach at Manual Arts, but more importantly, they will be exposed to the university process and how to become a part of it. What I’m looking to do is help neighborhood kids get into college, whether they pursue music or not. I want them to have more successful lives."
Bruce Eskovitz, lecturer, Thornton School of Music
"Science is now a daily part of the lives of hundreds of neighborhood youngsters who have participated in Mission Science over the last four years. They can see science and engineering as something that is part of their lives and not some arcane field. They see this because they are actually doing science and engineering projects themselves after school each week. They see that science as not simply reading a book or watching a video or computer simulation, but science is actually something that they do."
Larry Lim, director, Pre-College Programs Center for Engineering Diversity
"The USC ReadersPlus program has been invaluable to me, as well as to the readers in my class who are behind the others and in need of a boost. This program has been highly successful for my students and I have a deep appreciation of the USC Readers and Math Mentors, and everyone who makes the program happen."
Heidi Jenkins, teacher, 32nd Street/ USC Magnet Center
"Norwood Street School’s partnership with USC ReadersPlus has produced very positive results. Not only do our students receive the much-needed help with reading and math, but the friendships that develop between the Norwood kids and the USC students have also proven invaluable. The special time spent between tutor and child helps develop a love for learning as skills are improved. This intervention has become a regular part of a variety of services that the school utilizes to help every child."
Dee Dee Lonon, principal, Norwood Street School
"The USC Readers program had a major impact in choosing what I majored in at USC. Working with kids everyday and watching them learn and grow motivated me to become a teacher. The program gave me the experience I needed working with kids. I worked with the program for four years at Vermont Avenue Elementary; and now I work there as a teacher. I could not have left Vermont when I graduated because I had established a sense of community with the staff and the students. I hope the USC ReadersPlus program continues for a long time because it not only has a big impact on the reader’s life, but also in the lives of the children."
Alberto Rivera, teacher, Vermont Avenue Elementary School, and former USC Reader